Fence-post



GQTHOMAS. FENCE POST.

(No Model.)

Patentd Dec. 27, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE THOMAS, OF ROYERSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,724, dated December 2'7, 1892.

Application tiled .Iuly 6,1 892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE THoMAs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Royersford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others. skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fence posts more particularly adapted for use with barbed or other wire, and the object of the invention is to provide a post which shall resist the decaying action of the earth and the atmosphere and which shall also combine the essential qualities of strength of material and economy of manufacture. I accomplish these objects by constructing the post of baked or burnt clay, terra cotta, or other analogous material, and in two columns of sectional hollow t-ile interlocked together with a tongue and groove.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of one of the posts. Fig. 3 is a cross section of said post taken on the line 0c0c, Fig. 2.

In the said drawings the reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate the two vertical columns of which the post is formed, the column 1 having a vertical groove 4 in one of its faces adapted to receive the tongue 3 formed on the abutting face of the column 2. Each of these columns 1 and 2 is itself composed or built up of a number of sections, and the post when completed is so arranged that the horizontal joints of the one column do not register with those of the other column, or in other words that the sections of the two columns break joints. These sections may be of any desired length, the object of dividing them into sections being to prevent their warping while being burned, and to permit the building up of the post to any height.

To fasten the wire strands 10 to the posts I employ the staples 5 passed through the col- Serlal No. 439,144. (No model.)

umns l and the tongues 3 of the columns 2 and clinched on the other side. serves the double purpose of attaching the wire strand, and binding the columns of the posts together.

As has been before stated each of the sections is formed hollow, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in order to close or seal the ends of the posts, when the parts have been assembled, I preferably insert plugs of clay 7 into the sections used for the top and bottom before they are burned. Or, if desired, these top and bottom sections may be made solid. In order to more securely fasten the sections together a binding material such as pitch or cement may be employed between the tongue and groove. 1

I do not confine my invention to the construction of fence posts alone, but use it in connection with other structural purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

1. A fence post formed in two columns vertically, the columns being composed of sections of tiling or burnt clay, and the sections of one column being connected with those of the adjacent column bytongue and groove joints, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a fence post formed of sections of tiling or burnt clay built up into two columns vertically and said columns being united by a tongue and groove joint, a series of staples adapted to secure the fence strands to the post, said staples passing through the post at the joint so as tolock the tongue of one section into the groove of the opposite section, substantially as described.

3. A sectional hollow fence post formed of tiling or burnt clay or the like material, having its top and bottom sections sealed by plugs inserted before said sections are burned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS.

Witn esses:

R. E. SPRINGER, DAVID SPRINGER.

This sub- 

